MCM: Comhairle Ar Ollscoil/Choláiste

MCM doesn't just stand for Man Crush Monday. This June on The Titan Times, we are celebrating a MultiCulturalism Month. Today's article from former HT student Gabriela Escribano begins our series of bilingual articles. Up first is Gaelic and English! Keep reading for some great advice for university and college!

Comhairle Ar Ollscoil/Choláiste

Le: Gabriela Escribano

Roimh

1. Tabhair cuairt ar na scoileanna: chun taitneamh a bhaint as an áit ina mbeidh tú i do chónaí go ceann cúpla bliain.
2. Déan iarracht príomhábhar a roghnú a thaitníonn: is í fírinne an scéil ná go n-éiríodh, níos fearr leat agus tú ag déanamh staidéir ar rud éigin a thaitníonn leat. Cé nach bhfuil sé dodheánta do phríomhábhar a athrú, tá sé níos éasca le do chead rogha.

Le Linn

1. Tacaigh clubanna na tús na bliana: is áiteanna móra nua iad na hollscoileanna is na/coláistí, má thugann tú tacaíocht chuig clubanna cabhróidh sé go mór leat cairdeas a dhéanamh. Ní gá bheith páirteach i gnách rud le linn “frosh week”, ach déan iarracht chúpla imeacht, beidh seachtain níos taitneamhaí agat dá bharr.
2. Ceannaigh téascleabhair athláimhe: má tá an rogha agat, ceannaigh téascleabhair athláimhe. Tá sé in am dúinn bheith réadúil faoi chúrsaí, bíonn ollscoil/coláiste an-daor. Conradh maith ar an airgead iad téascleabhair athláimhe!
3. Téigh a chodladh!: beidh saoirse agat agus d’fhéadfá bheith dul amach ar an ragairne cibé uair is mian, ach má theann mothóidh tú go donna tar éis seachtain. Mothóidh tú níos fearr má fhaigheann tú codladh.
4. Ná déan moilleadóireacht: beidh níos mó obair scoile agat anseo ná mar a bhíodh agat agus tú ar an meánscoil. Ná siar sa rang. Bíonn sé uafásach amach níor a, oibríonn tú go crua agus déanann tú obair mhaith, ach faigheann tú marcanna bainte de mar go raibh sí mall.
5. Ná bíodh eagla ort iarr chabhair: taitníonn sé leis na léachtóirí nuair a thugann mic léinn cuairt orthu, déan cinnte go dtéann tú le linn na huaireanta oifige s’acu. Geallaim duit nach daoine scanrúla iad! Tá leas-múinteoirí agus teagascóirí, agus araile ann chun cúnamh a thabairt duit freisin. 
6. Freastal ar do ranganna: go bhfuil sé go deas codladh sa bhreis a fháil, ach faigh luach do chuid airgid! Fiú má chuireann do leachtóir a nótaí ar líne, gheobhaidh tú eolas breise má fhreastalaíonn tú do ranganna.
7. Bí cairdiúil le do chomhscoláirí: má thagann tinneas ort agus má chailleann tú rang, nó muna dtuigeann tú coincheap éigin, nó más mian leat staidéar a dhéanamh le duine éigin eile; cabhródh sé go mór leat dá mbeadh cara agat sa rang céanna leat. 

University/College Advice

By: Gabriela Escribano

Before

1. Visit the schools: you want to make sure you enjoy the place where you will live for the next few years.
2. Try your best to select a program you enjoy: the truth is, you will perform better if you are studying a subject you are interested in. Whilst it’s definitely not impossible to switch programs, it will be easiest if you stick with your original choice.

During

1. Join clubs at the beginning of the year: university is a big, new place and joining clubs really helps you make friends. You don’t have to stick with everything you sign up for at frosh week, but sticking with a few will really make the experience more enjoyable.
2. Buy used textbooks: if you have the option, buy textbooks in decent used condition. Let’s face it, university/college is already expensive enough. Give your wallet a rest!
3. Sleep!: the new sense of freedom may have you wanting to be up and partying at all hours, but after a week you’ll feel terrible. You’ll feel and perform better if you get your beauty sleep.
4. Don’t procrastinate: schoolwork piles up a lot faster here than in high school. If you let yourself get behind, the mountain of schoolwork resembles Everest. And it stinks when you work hard and do a good job but have tons of marks docked off for lateness.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: professors are practically begging students to go to their office hours. They may seem scary, but I promise they’re not as bad as they seem. There are also TAs, tutors etc.
6. Drag yourself to class: that extra hour of sleep might seem nice, but go get your money’s worth! Even if you have a prof who posts lecture notes online, you’ll get \extra information if you go to class.
7. Buddy up in classes: if you are sick and miss a class, don’t understand a concept, or want to study with someone else for finals, it really helps to have a friend to talk it over with.